TORKiYE BAROLAR BiRÙ G%i. il - Türkiye Barolar Birliği Yayınları

(35 EXPERIENCE WITH DOUBLE CITIZENSHIPProf. Philip MARTIN*1. HighlightsAR İİ C[EBY The US had 38 million foreign-born residents in 2007, 12.6PHIUPRTIN percent of the population. About 16 million of these foreign-bornresidents were naturalized US citizens, 42 percent, and 12 millionwere unauthorized, 32 percent. in FYo8, 1.1 million immigrantswere admitted; almost 60 percent were already in the US andadjusted their status, and a million immigrants became naturalizedUS citizens.Legal immigrants in the US at ieastfive years and 18 may naturalizeafter they pass a test of English language and US history.The naturalization oath requires immigrants to renounce loyaltiesto other countries. The US does not inform other govemmentswhen their citizens naturalize in the US.There 15 no estimate of the number of dual nationais in theUS, but there is agreement that dual nationality among foreignbornUS residents is increasing for several reasons, includingencouragement by the US government and the governments ofimmigrant countries of origin, a US government requirement toreplace immigrant ID cards ata cost similarto naturalization, andmid- ı 99os restrictions on the access of immigrants to many federalweifare benefits.186The author is Professor and Chair of the LJC Conıparative Imrnigration 8c integr-ationProgram at the University of California, Davis.